Inlet and outlet attachment for heat radiators



March 1934- R. J. BUCKLEY INLET AND OUTLET ATTACHMENT FOR HEAT RADIATORS Filed Aug. 22, 1930 R JBuCkZEy.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE INLET AND OUTLET ATTACHMENT FOR HEAT RADIATORS Robert J. Buckley, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application August 22,

5 Claims.

This invention relates-to steam-heated radiators, and especially to inlet and outlet attachments for heat-radiators.

One object of this invention is to properly di- 5 met the fiow of steam through all the radiator sections so as to completely fill them with steam and prevent them from becoming air-bound.

Another object is to utilize the water of condensation to combine with these attachments for entirely closing one of the lower ports or hollow bosses against the passage of steam ,therethrough, while permitting the water of condensation to flow therethrough and pass out either through the inlet or the outlet or both.

Another object is to provide a device of this character that requires no changing of the body or sections of the radiator, the attachments merely replacing the usual inlet and outlet fittings which are removed to make place for these improved fittings or attachments.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

25 Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steam heated radiator having its lower inlet and outlet portions broken away and in section and having my im-- proved inlet and outlet fittings applied in their useful positions.

tional side view of the main inlet member or fitting joined by a brace, the sectional view also showing the adjustable closure member and the automatic adjusting spring.

Fig. 3 is an inner side view of the closure member shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional side view and an outer end View of the outlet member or fitting joined by a brace.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond to similar parts in the several views, the invention is now described in detail as follows:

The radiator is of the usual or standard type, having tubular sections S adjoined by their hollow bosses B which form ports P through which they communicate interiorly. The inlet opening I is internally threaded to receive the usual or the improved inlet fitting or attachment 5. The outlet opening 0 is internally threaded to fit the usual or the improved outlet fitting or attachment 6.

The member or fitting 5 is externally threaded at 7 to: mesh with the threads of the inlet opening 1. It has a nut-head 8 for screwing it into 'Fig. 2 is an outer end view and a vertical sec- 1930, Serial No. 477,154

place and for limiting its inward movement and its rotary movement, so when it is tight against the inlet-boss B, it is in the proper useful position as shown. A yoke or intermediate part 9 has a cylindrical stud or extension 10 which is axially disposed with respect to the threads 7 and which is provided with a key-way 11 parallel with its axis. The intermediate part includes an inwardly and upwardly inclined wall or deflector 12 which serves the dual function of deflecting the incoming steam upwards and serving as part of the means to create a water-seal for preventing steam from passing through the lower port P next adjacent to the inlet opening I. Openlugs 13 are provided for the steam to pass upward through to the upper part of the first tubular section S, and the steam passes thence to one or more of the other sections S, according to whether all the upper bosses B are open, or alternately closed. In either event, the steam absorbs or drives out the air, and fills all the tubular sections while being condensed and while the water of condensation gravitates to the bottoms of the sections S and rises to the level of the wall 12 and the similar wall 14 of the member 6 and then begins to overflow the walls 12 and 14 and leave the radiator. These 'walls -12 and 14, therefore, determine the depth to which the water of condensation will rise in the radiator sections.

The restricting member 15 has an arcuate flange 16 that fits against the internal surface of the first section S that'forms the margin of the port next adjacent to the inlet opening 1, so it eiiectually seals the upper part of this port, but the member 15-16 terminates above the bottom of the said port and provides a restricted opening slightly below the level of the tops of the walls 12 and 14. Therefore, when the water has risen to the overflowing height it completely closes the opening 17 under the level lower edge 18 of the member 15. This member has a hollow boss 19 that fits on the shank or stud 10 so as to be slidable thereon, and has a screw or guide 20 that extends into the keyway or guide-slot 11 and prevents turning of the members 5 and 15 with respect to one another, so the edge 18 is always parallel with the top of the wall 12. A helical compression spring 21 surrounds the shank 10 and bears against the intermediate element '9 and the member 15 so as to yieldingly hold the fiange 16 against its seat as shown in Fig. 1. This spring easily and automatically adjusts the part 15-16 according to the distance of the port P from the inlet opening I.

It is seen that the parts 579--10 are formed integrally and are easily and cheaply formed, and that the screw 20 can be tightened for securing the parts 15 and 21 therein so all these parts constitute a merchantable unit that can be conveniently sold and carried without danger of getting the parts misfitted or disarranged. Any mechanic or mechanically minded person can properly follow the few printed directions that may accompany each of these units, and can remove the usual fitting and replace it by this unitary device. This member 5 may be internally threaded at 22 to receive a nipple N for connection to a valve V, or the nipple may be formed integrally therewith as is shown at N6 on the member 6, or the member 6 may have a separable nipple as shown at N.

The part 14 cooperates with the part 12 for determining the level of the water of condensation, and also deflects the outgoing steam in any system where there is another radiator connected to the nipple N6. H

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention specifically, it is not my intention to limit my patent protection to these specific details of description, for the invention is susceptible of numerous changes within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

I l. The combination with hollow inlet-end and outlet-end sections and intermediate sections for a steam-heated radiator provided with inlet and outlet and inter-communicating openings therein respectively; of tubular fittings secured in said inlet and outlet openings, each of said fittings having its lower side provided with an inwardly and upwardly inclined Wall, the tops of these Walls being substantially level with one another, and a restricting member constructed and arranged toseal the upper part of the intercommunicating opening next adjacent to said inlet opening and to provide a restricted waterpassage under the restricting member and below the level of the tops of said walls.

2. The combination with hollow inlet-end and outlet-end sections and intermediate sections of a steam-heated radiator provided with inlet and outlet and inter-communicating openings therein, of tubular inlet and outlet fittings secured in the respective inlet and outlet openings, each of said fittings having its lower side provided with a wall constructed and arranged to determine the depth of water of condensation and to provide an overflow therefor, the wall of the inlet fitting being properly positioned to direct incoming steam upward, a restricting member constructed and arranged to seal the upper part of the inter-communicating opening next adjacent to the inlet fitting and to provide a restricted water-passage under the closure member and below the level of the tops of said Walls so as to cooperate with the water of condensation to provide a Water-seal and thereby to prevent the flow of steam through said waterpassage, and means on said inlet fitting for holding said restricting member in its effective position.

3. The combination with hollow inlet-end sections and hollow adjoining sections of a, steamheated radiator, said sections being respectively provided with an inlet-opening and intercommunicating openings therein; of an inlet-fitting in the inlet-opening and provided with a wall constructed and arranged at its lower side to determine the depth of the water of condensation and to provide an overfiow therefor and to direct the inflowing steam upward, a restricting member constructed and arranged to close the upper part of the inter-communicating opening next adjacent to the inlet-fitting and to provide a water-passage under the restricting member and below the level of the top of said wall so as to cooperate with the water of condensation to provide a water-seal by which to prevent the flow of steam through said water-passage, and means on said inlet-fitting to support said restricting member and to press it into its effective position.

4. In an attachment for a steam-heated radiator, the combination of an integral tubular inlet-fitting, a restricting member, and a spring; said inletfitting comprising a nut-head, an externally threaded part adjoining the nut-head, a shank axially alined with the externally threaded part, and an intermediate part uniting the shank with the externally threaded part and including a steam-deflecting wall that extends up from the lower side of the externally threaded part and terminates below the axis of the latter said restricting member being slidably seated on said shank; said spring being compressed between said intermediate part and said restricting member, for the purpose specified. 115

5. In an attachment for a steam-heated radiator, the combination of a tubular inlet-fitting,

a restricting member, and a helical compression spring; said inlet-fitting including an externally and internally threaded part, a shank axially 120 alined with the threaded part, and an intermediate part united with said shank and threaded part and including a steam-deflecting wall that extends up from the lower side of the threaded part and terminates below the upper side of the 5 latter so as to provide a steam-passage; said restricting member being slidably seated on said shank and having a substantially straight lower edge and provided with means to keep said edge parallel with the upper edge of said wall, said 130 helical spring being around said shank and compressed between said intermediate part and said restricting member so as to automatically press the latter to its effective position.

ROBERT J. BUCKLEY. 

